Hiking Across the USA for Zero Waste Oʻahu
Hey everyone!
Our total amount raised is.... (drumroll please)... $930!
This number exceeded our expectations and is the most Hike4Love has ever raised! Thank you all so much for showing up for the planet, and stay tuned for future adventures!
More exciting news: we have a new page on our website called "Donors". Here, you can see who has donated and when. We hope to use this page to better recognize all the love and effort that goes into each campaign.
Update 1/10/21
Howdy!
Our Hike Across the USA for Zero Waste Oʻahu went very well! We're still waiting on the final number raised, but once we know, we'll post it here. Thus far, it looks like it'll be one of our most successful hikes yet!
Ben and Kennedy hiked in Massachusetts and Hawaiʻi to reduce waste and create a more sustainable planet. Ben hiked Mt. Wacchusett in northern MA with his brother and aunt, while Kennedy hiked Kaena Point in Oʻahu, HI with her friends.
Because of your support, Zero Waste Oʻahu will be able to fund more zero-waste initiatives, such as reusable takeout containers, education, and more. Your generosity will be reflected in our brighter, cleaner oceans!
Let's keep the love going for our community and the planet!
Thank you all so much,
Ben, Kennedy, Zero Waste Oʻahu
Massachusetts photos were taken on the lands of the Wabanaki, Nipmuc, and many other nations.
Hawaiʻi photos were taken on Kānaka Maoli/Kanaka ʻŌiwi land
Update 1/13/21
Update 1/3/21
Hey all!
Today we did part 1 of 2 of our Hike Across the USA for Zero Waste Oʻahu - Ben hiked Mt. Wachusett in Massachusetts! Later this week, on Wednesday, January 6, Kennedy will be hiking in Hawai'i! Stay tuned for updates!
There is still time to donate to Zero Waste Oʻahu! We'll be totaling our donations Wednesday night, so if you can donate, please do so!
Thank you all so much,
Hike4Love
Update 1/2/21
Howdy! Our much-anticipated Hike Across the USA is TOMORROW! Please donate at www.zerowasteoahu.org/donate, and write "Hike4Love" in the donation message so that we can recognize your contribution!
Zero Waste Oʻahu is a non-profit that is focused on reducing waste. Your love and generosity will make this campaign as successful as possible!
Happy new year!
The Hike4Love Team
Update 12/27/20
Hello! We are quickly approaching our first-ever hike in two states! We'll be hitting the trails on January 3rd, 2021, in just one week.
We'll be hiking for Zero Waste Oʻahu, a non-profit that is focused on reducing waste. We chose Zero Waste Oʻahu because of their commitment to bringing the community together to be more sustainable. With your love and support, we can create a cleaner future for the United States. Please donate at www.zerowasteoahu.org/donate, and write "Hike4Love" in the donation message so that we can recognize your contribution!
Happy holidays,
The Hike4Love Team
Update 12/21/20
Howdy everyone! We are excited to announce our next hike for love, Hiking Across the USA for Zero Waste Oʻahu! The hike will be on January 3rd, 2021.
What is Zero Waste Oʻahu?
Zero Waste Oʻahu is a non-profit organization that seeks to reduce waste on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. They provide education, resources, and programs to create a more ethical future for Hawaiʻi. On their website, they have lots of information on how to reduce your waste through small and large-scale changes. You can learn more at www.zerowasteoahu.org.
Where are they hiking?
Ben and Kennedy will be hiking in or near their home states of Massachusetts and Hawaiʻi. Together, they will use our love for hiking along with YOUR support to work across the United States to raise money for a future with less waste. By working together to be more environmentally conscious, we can become better and more ethical consumers and tackle big problems, such as climate change. Keep your eyes peeled for future updates on our campaign!
How can I support?
Please share, like, and comment on our Facebook and Instagram posts to help spread awareness about this campaign. Your support is greatly appreciated!
How can I donate?
Your donation will go a long way in working towards a brighter, less wasteful future for Hawaiʻi! At the end of the hike, as always, we will display the names of all donors. Please donate at www.zerowasteoahu.org/donate! When you donate, please write "Hike4Love" in the donation message so that we can be sure to include you as one of our donors!
Thanks so much for your continued love and support,
Ben and Kennedy
December Educational Videos!
12/20 - DiverseU Video!
We have a video from back in October when we presented Hike4Love's work to the University of Montana! We talked about what Hike4Love is, past hikes and videos, future goals, and more! Check it out below!
12/13 - Two videos!
Our first video is from Ben on how to read topographic maps. We hope that you find it very informative. Let us know if you have any questions!
Our second video is from Kennedy on how to stretch before hiking. Stretching is super important and these exercises will help make for a successful hike!
We have lots of exciting plans coming up, so keep up-to-date by following our Instagram and Facebook pages!
November River Cleanup!
Nov. 4 Update: Election Day River Cleanup!
Thank you all to everyone who participated in our river cleanup! We collected over seven full bags of trash from the river! We are thrilled with the turnout and hope to do more events like this in the future!
Election Day River Cleanup!
Hey Hike4Love fam! We're organizing a River Clean Up! We hope that you can come clean up the trash on election day, November 3rd! We are so excited to be contributing to our community through improving our public lands!
We will be meeting at the pedestrian bridge at the Riverfront Trail, right next to the University of Montana. We will be walking down the trail and cleaning up trash from 12-3 PM. Please bring gloves, a mask, a trash bag, and water. We'll see you there!
October Educational Videos!
10/20 - Two videos!
Our first video today is from Kaʻau from Hui Mālama. He made this beautiful video from our Wumboworks Hike to raise money to support the Missoula community! Check it out!
Our second video is from Ben and his friend, Kara, on hiking with a disability. They both went to Lava Lake and backpacked over the weekend. In this video, they reflect on their experiences of hiking with a disability.
10/12 - Indigenous People's Day videos!
We hope you enjoy two videos from Ben and Kennedy!
Hiking the Wumboworks Loop
for Hui Mālama
The Big Day! - 9/26/20
Thank you all so much for yet another very successful hike for love!
Ben and Kennedy, along with Hui Mālama representative Kaʻaumoana Ahina, hiked the Wumboworks Loop, going a total of 11.5 miles and gaining over 2,000 feet of elevation! We cannot express how grateful we are for all of your support (and the beautiful weather!)
Ben and Kennedy are pleased to announce that we helped raise over $400 for Hui Mālama! Your contributions mean so much to us and will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of Pacific Islanders here in Missoula.
You can view the route we hiked at https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-f6e0664--29
Mahalo nui loa,
Ben, Kennedy, Ka‘au
Not pictured on the banner: Kaʻaumoana Ahina, Ellen Fiscus. Thank you for your generosity!
⭐Photos taken on stolen Séliš, Qlispé, and Ktunaxa ɂamakɂis land⭐
At the top of Waterworks Hill
Heading down Waterworks
Near Waterworks trailhead
Hiking through the valley between Waterworks and Jumbo
Missoula as seen from the top of Mt. Jumbo
At the top of Mt. Jumbo
Hiking up the backside of Mt. Jumbo
Heading down Mt. Jumbo!
At the end of the hike!
Update 9/25/20
We are so excited to be hiking tomorrow!! All donations to Hui Mālama will go directly to supporting the community, specifically Pacific Islanders in Missoula. Recently our donations have gone to help a Pacific Islander student who had to go into quarantine and was not in the best situation. Please consider donating! All donors will have their names displayed at the top of Jumbo at the end of our hike. We are so grateful for your support!
Update 9/19/20
Only 7 days left until the hike! We're so grateful to all those who have donated thus far! That money is making a difference in the Missoula community right now through the Hui Malama adopt-a-Griz program, which is helping to care for students during these hard times. Please continue to share and donate to our campaign! Your contributions mean so much!
Update 9/16/20
Our first promotional video is up! Please share and help us raise as much money as possible!
Captions are included!
Update 9/13/20
We are officially launching the Wumboworks Hike for Hui Mālama! Ben and Kennedy are so excited to be hiking for Hui Mālama. Hui Mālama is a group of hardworking, dedicated Pacific Islanders based here in Missoula. They live by "mālama kekahi i kekahi" (Hawaiian for "take care of one another"). Hui Mālama works to create, strengthen, and promote community, especially among Pacific Islanders. Preserving community and culture is incredibly important, especially in Missoula, a home far away from home.
Wumboworks is a loop composed of Mt. Jumbo and Waterworks Hill. Mt. Jumbo is also known by the Séliš name Si-nim-koo - an obstacle or a big bump. In our daily lives, we encounter big obstacles or bumps in the road. Groups like Hui Mālama help Pacific Islanders and communities to overcome these obstacles all using the beauty of the Polynesian culture and arts.
While hiking Wumboworks, Ben and Kennedy will go a total of 11.5 miles and gain over 2,000 feet of elevation! As we hike, we would love to have some company! If you
wish to join our hike, please share this website or the Facebook or Instagram post, then message us or Ben or Kennedy for more information on how to hike with us! There are three options for hiking with us:
- Waterworks Hill only (would need a shuttle): 5 miles
- Mt. Jumbo only (would need a shuttle): 5.5 miles
- The whole loop: 11 miles
Ben and Kennedy are doing this hike because building a stronger community in Missoula will take supporting groups such as Hui Mālama. Please consider donating! At the summit of Mt. Jumbo, we will display the name of all donors. Your contributions mean so much and will go a very long way!
How to donate: Venmo @Huimalama406
- If you do not have Venmo, please message Ben or Kennedy on more ways to donate, such as using a check, Paypal, etc. Using Venmo to directly donate to Hui Mālama is strongly preferable.
You can view the route at: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-f6e0664--29
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much),
Ben and Kennedy
Update 9/11/20
We're planning our next hike!
Ben and Kennedy will be hiking Wumboworks, an 11.5 mile loop that goes through Waterworks Hill and Mt. Jumbo! We will be hiking for the local Missoula organization Hui Mālama. We will be officially launching our campaign this weekend.
Stay tuned for updates!
Hiking the Triple Peak Loop for
the Loveland Foundation
August 5th, 2020
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR AN AMAZING AND SUCCESSFUL FIRST FUNDRAISING HIKE! Words cannot express how grateful I am! We raised over $700 for the Loveland Foundation. This money will make a real difference in the lives of black women and girls by helping fund the therapy needed to recover from generational trauma. I will be doing more fundraising hikes in the future. Off to my next adventure!!!
Campaign: (viewable on rb.gy/8wt9kz)
Breonna Taylor. Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells. Oluwatoyin Salau. Riah Milton. These are just the names of a few black women who have been murdered for the color of their skin. For black women, the threat of police violence and hate crimes is a visceral reality they face every day. The Loveland Foundation works to help people of color, especially black women and girls, to heal from the generational and everyday trauma they face. Healing from trauma is a crucial key step in helping to create a more just future for black communities.
For me, hiking has been a way to unwind and heal. That is why I want to use my hiking expertise to raise money for the Loveland Foundation. I will be hiking a loop, that covers three peaks, two of which are the tallest peaks in the City of
Missoula. The hike will be on August 5th (originally scheduled for July 31st).
For each increment of money I raise, I will hike to the following peaks (map linked at the end):
$25: Hike to Ginny Peak (4 miles)
$50: Hike to Ginny Peak AND University Mountain (6.4 miles)
$100+: Hike to Ginny Peak, University Mountain, A
ND Mt. Sentinel (7.9 miles)
Hiking back from Mt. Sentinel to the beginning of the loop would make it 12.5 miles total, plus over 3,000 feet (!) of elevation gain.
I am doing this hike because I believe that overcoming racial inequality and trauma is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Every dollar that you put towards this hike will help me go further, and help black women and girls go further for generations to come. We can make a difference!
At the end of my hike, I will display the names of all donors. Your contribution means so much!
You can view a map of my hike here: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/mapa-243f6a5?u=i
Author's note: Mt. Sentinel is also known by the Sélis name Mt. Es-mock, which means "a lookout"
⭐On stolen Sélis, Qlispé, and Ktunaxa land⭐
